Over-ear headphones for commuting and the metro
What matters on a commute
The metro and the bus are loud, and the trip repeats every day. You need noise cancelling, a battery you do not charge often, and headphones that pack into a bag.
TESNA Pods M6
The Pods M6 have hybrid ANC up to 32 dB, last 60 hours and fold into a case the size of a paperback. At two hours of commuting a day, you charge them about once a month. They weigh 232 g.
TESNA Pods Ultra
The Pods Ultra have adaptive ANC up to 45 dB, 48 hours with ANC on, Hi-Res sound over LDAC on Android phones that support it, and memory-foam cushions you replace by hand. They are the pick if you commute and fly often.
Metro, bus, train: what noise you face
Commuting noise is mostly low and steady: metro wheels on the rails, the bus engine, the ventilation on the train. That is exactly where active noise cancelling works best. Over-ear headphones add passive isolation too, because the cushions cover the whole ear.
The Pods M6 have hybrid ANC up to 32 dB, enough to make the metro much quieter. The Pods Ultra have adaptive ANC up to 45 dB, which adjusts itself to the noise, useful if you change transport often or go from the street to the train.
In stations and on the platform, where you need to hear announcements, switch ANC off or slide one cup off your ear.
Weight and how they wear
The Pods M6 weigh 232 g and the Pods Ultra 268 g. On a 30 to 45 minute commute the difference is barely noticeable; at two hours a day, the lighter pair tires the neck and crown less.
The band should rest on the crown without pressing, and the cushions should surround the whole ear, not sit on it. If you wear glasses, soft cushions seal better around the arms; on the Pods Ultra the memory foam moulds itself to them.
In winter over-ear headphones also keep you warm; in summer, on long journeys, take a break and let your ears breathe.
Battery for the week
The Pods M6 last 60 hours. At two hours of commuting a day, five days a week, that is ten hours a week: you charge them about once every six weeks. The Pods Ultra last 48 hours with ANC on, nearly five weeks of a two-hour daily commute.
The Pods Ultra also come with a 3.5 mm cable, for a laptop, an in-flight system or anything with a headphone jack.
In the bag
The Pods M6 fold to the size of a paperback, so they fit a shoulder bag or a small rucksack. The Pods Ultra do not fold, so they take more room; keep them in a separate rucksack compartment so the cushions are not scratched by keys.
For commuting by bike or scooter, over-ear headphones are the wrong choice: they cover your ears and you cannot hear the traffic. There an open-ear bud is safer.
Safety on the way
On the platform and at crossings, lift one cup or switch ANC off so you hear announcements and traffic.
Over-ear or in-ear for commuting
Over-ear headphones isolate better and have a bigger battery: the Pods M6 last 60 hours, while an in-ear bud usually lasts a few hours per charge, plus the case. They are also more comfortable for anyone who cannot stand tips in their ears.
In-ear buds win on size: they fit a pocket and are easy to wear at the gym after work. If you commute and train on the same day, you may want both; if you only commute, over-ear is the quieter choice.
Every model is in the shop, under over-ear headphones.